10 Cars and SUVs in Need of a Sportier Model
Who doesn’t like performance? Oh, sure, it’s not the No. 1 priority of each and every car shopper, but the driving experience is so much better when you get to enjoy big thrills behind the wheel—whether on the road or the track.
Most automakers offer performance variants of their models, but some don’t, and quite frankly, that’s a shame. Here are 10 examples. Which one would you like to see come to life?
Acura RDX
Unlike the MDX, TLX and even the Integra, the RDX still doesn’t offer a Type S model. Its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine delivers a respectable 272 horsepower, but cranking things up with Acura’s twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 (355 horsepower) would be awesome.
Audi A3
The A5, A6 and A7 are all available in Canada in RS trim, but not the smaller A3. That’s too bad. The RS 3 sold overseas packs a turbocharged 2.5-litre inline five-cylinder engine that produces 394 horsepower, sounds like no other and shoots the car from 0-100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. At least we have the S3…
Chevrolet Equinox
We’re not really asking for a performance variant of the Equinox, but a more potent engine than the turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder (175 horsepower) would be nice. Sadly, the next-generation 2025 Equinox (pictured above) doesn’t fix that. Come on, Chevrolet!
Fiat 500e
The little 500 is back in Canada as a fully electric city car called 500e, but its 118 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque fail to impress. In Europe, there’s a 500e Abarth with 155 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque, and it can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 7 seconds instead of approximately 9 seconds. Let’s wait and see if Stellantis Canada decides to bring it here.
Infiniti QX50
The Infiniti brand desperately needs a new direction and something for people to get excited about. The QX50 is a decent product on its own, but not as inspiring as most rivals despite a 268-horsepower engine under the hood. Is it too much to ask for a Red Sport model with a 400-horsepower V6 like the one available in the Q50 lineup?
Mazda3
Mazda has set out to become a more premium brand, but is still focused on delivering a fun driving experience. The Mazda3 is great with an available turbocharged 2.5-litre engine that puts out as much as 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. However, it’s no Mazdaspeed3. We miss that one.
Mitsubishi
We’re not singling out a particular model, here, but the brand needs to bring back Ralliart models or maybe a direct successor to the Lancer Evolution. Whether it’s next year or in the EV era, we’d love to see more performance from Mitsubishi.
Nissan Sentra
The Sentra SR isn’t any sportier than the rest of the lineup, though a six-speed manual transmission is available. All models feature the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that delivers 149 horsepower. Let’s forget about a Sentra NISMO, but a more powerful engine sure would be nice, and something many shoppers would consider.
Subaru WRX
More than a turbocharged BRZ coupe, what we want to see is the return of the WRX STI. Surprised? While the three-way battle between the Volkswagen Golf R, Honda Civic Type R and Toyota GR Corolla captivates many performance enthusiasts, Subaru is taking a back seat with the 271-horsepower WRX. We’ve been told the WRX STI will come back at some point, but for now the automaker is focusing on other projects like electrifying its upcoming models.